Chapter 456

Fortunately, Ji Ming's information network was fairly swift, and he learned of the matter as soon as Berry Uncle encountered trouble.

No matter how you say it, they ended up like this only to help him, so he certainly couldn't let Old Uncle suffer misfortune; he therefore thought to quickly call in favors through acquaintances, hoping to smooth things over.

After mentally reviewing all his acquaintances in the Royal Capital, he discovered a rather thorny problem.

His circle of friends basically all sided with the Huguang family, while Old Uncle's garrison belonged to the Xiguang Duke's side, so he hardly had any acquaintances there and basically had no say……

Wait a moment.

Ji Ming then suddenly realized an even more serious issue, possibly even a fundamental one.

Question: Why does the proportion of Huguang lineage in Ji Ming's Royal Capital circle of friends stand out so high?

Because although he hadn't mingled in the Royal Capital social scene for long—he had stayed away due to finding it too disgusting—the first small group he knew was the Fei family siblings.

So, when he was initially unaware, the few aristocratic mixers he attended were basically their social circle.

Thus, to outsiders, this Divine Select of his, though obscure and low‑profile, clearly favored the Huguang family.

But.

Since Deep Forest distinguishes its factions by heirs and names them after each territory's most representative product—mithril (the Eldest Princess), magic crystal (the Second Prince), and silver (the Third Prince)—it splits into three major factions.

As Hui Guang Kingdom, once a brother‑state of Deep Forest and always the leader in ruthless endeavors, how could it possibly consent to play second fiddle?

In fact, just like EastJapan's navy and army, which revolve around the financial and military authority devolved by the sovereign, the two noble factions of Hui Guang also harbor contradictions.

Because the Minister of Finance must carry a money pouch made of mithril, while the Minister of Defense's office displays a sword and shield bestowed by the ancestral king, their factions are respectively called the "Moneybag" and the "Sword and Shield".

Therefore, the personal grudge between the Xiguang Duke and the Huguang Duke is actually trivial; it is the factional conflict involving countless nobles that constitutes the true backdrop of Hui Guang.

At this point someone might ask: Now that Hui Guang's martial virtue has withered to the point of being comparable to a timid otherworld, how can the Sword and Shield faction still have the confidence to go head‑to‑head with the Moneybag faction?

—otherwise why would I use EastJapan's army and navy as an example?

Because as time passes, the two factions, in their fierce struggle, have gradually altered their operational approach, adapting to version iterations and developing new tactics.

For example, to prevent the Moneybag faction from continuing to annoy them with military‑funding issues, the Sword and Shield faction contacted Lingxi, opened a wholly exclusive new trade route at a higher price, and conducted business with foreign merchants themselves.

And to prevent the Sword and Shield faction from feigning deafness at critical moments, the Moneybag faction simply smelted steel extensively in their own territories, hired instructors from Deep Forest, and trained a force that obeys them completely—a "Defense Corps".

Thus the Moneybag faction may well have its own private army, and the Sword and Shield faction may also possess its own merchant convoy; when needed, each can sing the other's tune and put on a fierce show of opposing sides in the Royal Capital.

Yet this brings about duplicated mechanisms and authority conflicts, making Hui Guang Kingdom resemble a creature with only one mouth but two bodies—a malformed offspring burdened with a plethora of useless organs that consume far more than they yield.

Moreover, as the contradictions intensify and royal authority gradually loses its absolute grip, a great many contrarians have arisen who oppose simply for the sake of opposing.

Hey! Whether you speak good or bad, I object! Anything that isn't my word gets vetoed lock, stock, and barrel!

At that time the kingdom wasn't lacking sensible people, such as Archbishop Tenis and many senior ministers in the court.

But hampered by the iron law that divine and royal powers must not interfere, and by the suffering of old age, frailty, dwindling influence, and weak voice, their words and pleas had no effect and could not pull back the wagon already careening down the steep slope.

Therefore, Berry Uncle's recent predicament being blown up into a big story is very likely the two factions again stirring up trouble in daily affairs, and the instigator is probably himself.

…Tsk tsk, idling with nothing to do, yet insisting on chasing and squabbling over a glass pawn not even worth a foot soldier—truly unafraid of falling apart!

As for a solution, if one must say, it's actually not nonexistent.

But one certainly can't bother the Sun King old geezer over such a trifle, lest the detour be too roundabout and the commotion too great.

Ji Ming therefore first contacted the leader of the Pegasus Knights, Haikemedya, whom he had only just met but had previously fought side‑by‑side with in the southern part of the kingdom.

Although he belongs to the ecclesiastical system, as a long‑lived elf and also a fairly renowned military commander, he naturally has many old acquaintances on the Sword and Shield side.

So I ask him to step forward, speak a few good words for me, emphasize the church's neutral stance in Royal Capital affairs, and let these damned bastards stop worrying about me and stay clear.

And the brigade commander is currently resting on Holy Mountain, so contact was made quickly; thus Ji Ming's letter, only just sent in the morning, had its reply brought back by a messenger at noon.

But when he unfolded the letter and examined it closely, he discovered that the matter might actually differ a bit from what he had imagined.

In short, he had imagined the affair to be far too terrifying.

Indeed, think about it—the destructive power of this Hui Guang agitator is so strong that it once disrupted the Moonlight Duke's frontline war effort, depriving it of supplies, causing defeat, and throwing the south into chaos.

It really should have produced a character like an otherworldly marauder king—heroes shape the age, the age shapes heroes—to have sent the great Hui Guang's "duddle‑duddle‑duddle" cheerfulness packing.

Then why has the Hui Guang Kingdom managed to survive to this day without reaching that fated demise?

Because it's laughable, as the older generation passed away, the 【Dragon King】's curse erupted.

Desire, although it never completely overpowered the rationality of the Hui Guang nobles, also wore down their resolve and stamina, turning them into a mess of swine‑like vermin.

So.

"Hehehe, brothers, don't fight internally, eat your fill, drink your fill, go play cards!"

…Tsk tsk, not doing things lets you live longer than doing them—how could I have such a dream?

In short, although the two factions still exist and, due to the continuation of ancestral contradictions, remain in a state of mutual opposition.

But the guys might have been honing their card skills just a couple days ago in the same artillery tower with the same card buddy; they're all pals, so the struggle certainly isn't as fierce as before.

So nowadays the internal strife, rather than being a fight, is more like habitual mutual annoyance, even a regular routine of flirtatious bickering; the point is the attitude.

"Damn, it's just switching from one kind of disgust to another, right?"

Thus this matter suddenly becomes simple—no need for the brigade commander's help; as long as Ji Ming finds an opportunity to clarify his neutral stance, so as not to frighten the Sword and Shield faction into a panic.

However, when immortals clash, mortals suffer—still the same saying: if they think they're just playing, who bears the blame when that glass pawn shatters?

Therefore, for Berry Uncle, Ji Ming's willingness to step in and help settle the matter is absolutely a favor.

Thus, as a tit‑for‑tat, before rushing off anxiously to check on his own daughter, he wore a troubled expression and secretly divulged to Ji Ming a rather important piece of information.

Now this is fine—Ji Ming, who had originally felt everything was under control, instantly changed countenance.

—Damn, there's still this kind of old fox?

Berry Uncle hurriedly explained.

"Teacher Ji! I also only learned of this this morning; I can guarantee I have nothing to do with it."

Ji Ming could only wave his hand.

"... Alright, I understand, go on."

But he really hadn't expected there to be another matter behind the scenes, so he hastily opened the Player Forum to begin gathering related information.

While he was busy figuring out a solution, the rest stop, which could almost be described as a small town, was far from peaceful.

Because the training squads from all the academies and classes gather here, not because the drills have ended.

Quite the opposite, a full combat drill actually lasts nine days; the first three days are just the first part, while the last three days are the second part.

As for the middle three days, they are for the students to rest and recuperate here, reflect on the gains and losses of the first three days, so as to improve their combat effectiveness in the final three days.

However, after so many years of development, this rest period has become merely nominal; behind the scenes, everyone has long turned it into something elaborate.

So if you have money and influence, you can organize your own personnel, pay a donation, and then secretly enter the high‑level area to explore.

If you have money but no influence, you can hire a few patrol rangers, pay the same donation, and then blend into the patrol squad to enter the high‑level area to explore.

And if you have neither money nor influence… oh, then you're obviously just here to rest.

Don't worry, everyone will wish you good luck in the low‑level area for the last three days!

As for the teachers leading the teams and the accompanying guards, these three days are also their genuine welfare benefits.

Since we can temporarily let the kids roam free, couldn't they also get lost wandering into the high‑level area?

So in the evening, Mei Zi Shu again brought a few unfamiliar border‑guard knights to look for Ji Ming.

"Teacher Ji, we're planning to go out and have a look—how about we go together?"

The words sounded pleasant, but they had already given notice beforehand, so Ji Ming knew this wasn't just a friendly invitation between friends.

Because the true mastermind behind this scheme is actually the current chief of the Sword Shield Sect, the Xiguang Duke.

And Mei Zi Shu is merely a pawn; he received a direct order from his superiors this morning to invite the God's Chosen to join his exploration team that evening and reach a designated spot inside the rest stop, with no room for error.

Besides that, although the messenger didn't reveal anything more, Mei Zi Shu himself had once served under the Xiguang Duke, so he remembered the man's face and guessed it was very likely the duke himself who was behind it.

With the duke involved, the matter behind this becomes quite intriguing.

First, why would the duke take part?

Second, am I really being harmed by internal strife?

Finally, and most importantly, when did this scheme begin?

Mei Zi Shu thought it over, worrying that good people shouldn't suffer losses and that he himself shouldn't be a clueless fool; gathering his courage, he quietly told Ji Ming about his experiences and his speculations.

Ji Ming wasn't angry, after all—one can't always scheme against others while forbidding others to scheme against oneself.

Moreover, he was also curious why the Xiguang Duke had set up this trap just to meet him, so he decided to play along and indeed came here.

As a veteran minister of the kingdom, the duke's reputation in the royal capital is actually excellent, truly deserving of high moral standing and prestige.

On one hand, it's because he relentlessly pursues martial arts, ignores temptations, and is among the rare ascetics of the royal capital's nobility; thus, even past seventy he remains vigorous, outliving one indulgent peer after another.

On the other hand, as one of the kingdom's top combatants, this old man is clearly past his prime, yet he still ranks around seventy‑three, making him an absolute pillar of Radiant Light.

Most importantly, this old man is practically a genius at managing noble‑class IP; rumor has it that since he was five, no one has ever seen him in a sorry state—not even his parents, wife, or children.

The old duke always appears with neat beard and hair, eyes like lightning, brows furrowed, as if he might at any moment slam a hammer‑like punch onto your chest.

Upon seeing Ji Ming, he opened his mouth and uttered a bland, pretentious line.

"God's Chosen Ji, I've long heard of your great name."

All these factors combined make the old duke's mere presence here give Ji Ming the urge to first find a spot, sit, burn incense, save his state, then return.

But impulse aside, the prepared Ji Ming merely spoke in a low voice.

"Xiguang Duke? I never expected to meet you here—this is my honor."

Then came an unpleasant silence.

"Er, ha ha…"

He probably also realized he was being too intimidating, so the duke quickly broke the silence with an awkward laugh.

Then came an inexplicable sigh.

"Ah, actually I hadn't planned to come, but who made it so that my little grandson is participating in this drill?"

"The little brat insists on showing off, so as his grandfather I have no choice but to get involved…"

For some reason, this obviously ulterior‑motivated old man didn't mention a single serious matter, but instead earnestly chatted with Ji Ming about everyday affairs.

Moreover, under the pretense of "rarely getting to see Teacher Ji," he kept asking him questions about children's education.

This left Ji Ming completely bewildered.

With my level, at best I could be a tutoring instructor charging a few dozen dollars an hour—do you really think I'm some kind of professional?

But for now I can only grit my teeth and keep the conversation going, steering it toward my own expertise as much as possible, lest the duke later realize I've been spouting nonsense and hold a grudge.

As they chatted, Ji Ming noticed another problem.

The little grandson is just taking a test—why would someone as powerful as one of the kingdom's top figures care so much about him as a grandfather?

What about his parents—are they dead?

Oh, they really are dead.

Although much information is internal to the various factions, some common knowledge can still be made public for everyone to know.

Thus, while browsing a player‑built wiki, Ji Ming also found information about the Xiguang Duke's offspring.

Perhaps it's because the old man's fate is too hard—he's born to clash with kin—so aside from himself, his whole family is truly just that little grandson.